Around the BBC

That's all from BBC Local Live for Devon and Cornwall on Tuesday 2 March. Thanks for joining us.

We'll be back at 08:00 on Wednesday with all the latest news, sport, travel and weather updates.

17:57:News on the hour

The top news stories at 18:00 include:

BBC Radio Cornwall: Agencies, including police and other bodies, gathered at the Eden Project to discuss the threat of slavery and adult exploitation in the county.

BBC Radio Devon: The award-winning children's author Mal Peet, who lived in Exmouth, has died aged 67, several months after being diagnosed with cancer.

17:48:Police support anti-fraud campaign

Devon and Cornwall Police are supporting the Home Office funded "Spot It, Stop It" anti-fraud campaign, which has been launched across the south west.

The campaign aims to raise awareness of scams people may fall prey to, particularly doorstep fraud, plus telephone and online scams. There were 8,600 reports of fraud in Devon and Cornwall last year, resulting in the loss of about £9m, the force said. Victims were usually aged between 61 and 90, it added.

It will stay windy into the evening with a few showers continuing, although these will gradually die out overnight. However, clear spells could allow temperatures to fall low enough for some patchy ice to form by the morning. The minimum temperature will be 0C (32F).

After a cold start, Wednesday should be a dry day with a good deal of sunshine. It will feel less cold than Tuesday, with winds easing too. Temperature will reach 9C (48F) in places.

17:32:Police team in school

The Plymstock Police Team tweets: Excellent time at Dunstone Primary. Very inquisitive 4&5 yr olds. Lovely part of our job

17:26:'Tourism success could push spaceport'BBC Radio Cornwall

Space Minister Robert Goodwill tells BBC Radio Cornwall that Newquay's connectivity and success as a holiday resort could boost its chances of becoming a spaceport.

He said: "Newquay is in a very good place, because you've got an already well-developed tourism industry with restaurants and hotels."

17:17:Businesses support distract plans

Businesses in Exeter City Council have voted in favour of creating a Business Improvement District (BID) for the city centre, the city council says.

Money raised by the project would "enable businesses to invest in better marketing and promotion of the city centre", it added.

17:09:Woman pulled unconscious from water

A rescue helicopter from RNAS Culdrose airlifted a 70-year-old woman who was rescued from a swimming pool at Newquay Leisure Centre.

Royal Navy rescuer Lt Cmdr Andy Watts, a winchman and medic with 771 Squadron, told the BBC that the woman was pulled unconscious from the pool and treated with a defibrillator on site before she was taken to the Royal Cornwall Hospital.

16:57:News on the hour

The top news stories at 17:00 include:

BBC Radio Cornwall: Cornwall and Scilly's Local Enterprise Partnership says it will make crucial decisions over the coming months to decide whether it will submit a bid for a contract to allow Newquay to become a spaceport.

BBC Radio Devon: Mid Devon District Council, which is freezing its share of council tax for the fifth year running, says it can keep front line services "at existing levels" because it has managed to make "significant efficiency savings".

PO Adams said: "I am proud of all of our efforts that night to save those fisherman - the pilot and observer were under a lot of pressure to keep the aircraft steady and my life safe. It was a very challenging rescue and being at night it made it even more so. I think we were really working at the limits."

A programme in Devon protecting people with learning disabilities from sexual exploitation is needed because victims in an abusive relationship often think the relationship is "more important to them than the fact that abuse is taking place within it".

Project leader Rod Landman (pictured) said: "They have the same needs and desires for friendships as the rest of us. That can be very easily exploited by anyone who is in that kind of business."

An inquest jury yesterday returned an 'accidental death' ruling on Valon Pitts in 2012, but identified serious lapses by police and ambulance staff.

The family of Mr Pitts - also known as Chang Somers - told the BBC: "Although we can't bring Chang back, we feel strongly that no other family should have to go through this, to see their loved one die because of the kinds of failings in this case. One of the hardest things for us to come to terms with as a family is the fact that because Chang's body was not found for so long, we will never really know how he actually died."

15:58:News on the hour

The top news stories at 16:00 include:

BBC Radio Cornwall: Newquay remains in the running to operate commercial space flights in the UK, but the Local Enterprise Partnership behind any potential local bid says it will wait for more details before making a decision about the project.

BBC Radio Devon: Mid Devon District Council has frozen its share of council tax for the fifth year running, saying it isn't making any cuts to front line services and it can maintain them "at existing levels".

15:49:Smoke alarm selfies

Devon and Somerset Fire Service tweets: Pressing the button on your smoke alarm! Send us a #selfie #presssmokebutton

15:36:City's gardening equipment stolen

Thousands of pounds-worth of gardening equipment has been stolen from the Truro City Parks Department over the weekend, the city council has told the BBC.

Parks manager Richard Budge said padlocks protecting the equipment were cut, but police had been informed and CCTV showing the three thieves had been discovered. All the stolen items were marked and their serial numbers logged, he added.

15:25:Mebyon Kernow candidate steps downAndrew SegalLocal Live

A Mebyon Kernow Parliamentary candidate has announce he is stepping down.

Orlando Kimber said he was no longer to be candidate for North Cornwall in the forthcoming general election because he wanted to care for his sick wife.

15:16:Spring has sprung!

Spring has been officially declared in Cornwall now that seven champion Magnolia campbellii trees across the county are in full bloom.

At least 50 blooms have been counted on the magnolia trees across seven of Cornwall's great gardens - pictured is Georgiana Ashworth admiring the magnolias at Tregothnan.

The Eden Project is holding a conference on modern slavery today - it's estimated that there are between 10-13,000 victims of slavery across the country.

Chief constable Shaun Sawyer said: "Cornwall is in a good place. It's uncomfortable for traffickers to work in because it's where public watch out for each other."

14:57:News on the hour

The top news stories at 15:00 include:

BBC Radio Cornwall: Cornwall's home-owners are being encouraged to report burglaries and thefts after the Policy Exchange thinktank claimed property crime had virtually become decriminalised.

BBC Radio Devon: The family of 10-year-old Samuel Crocker, who died at the weekend following a road accident in Crediton, say they "all miss our little 'mole' so much".

14:45:Medal for hero winchman

A Royal Navy winchman who risked his life repeatedly to save five French fisherman from almost certain death has been awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal.

Petty Officer Russ Adams - who's from Canada - rescued five men trapped on a badly damaged French fishing vessel in the middle of a raging storm off the coast of Cornwall in February 2013.

14:36:New average speed cameras

Four new sets of average speed cameras are to be installed across Cornwall from next month, the West Briton reports.

They are due to be located in existing 30mph zones at: Henver Road in Newquay, on the A390 at St Blazey, on the A388 at St Mellion; and on the A394 Trewennack, near Helston.

14:31:Newquay gets Apollo 13 treatmentAndrew SegalLocal Live

The Telegraph has headlined news that Cornwall remains on the shortlist for a UK spaceport with a headline based on the famous radio transmission of the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission: "Newquay, we have a problem...'.

Astronaut and mission commander Jim Lovell famously said: "Houston, we've had a problem" after a section of his spacecraft exploded on 13 April 1970.

14:10:A chilly night aheadKevin ThomasBBC Weather Forecaster

There will be scattered showers and spells of sunshine this afternoon. Some showers will be heavy with hail and perhaps wintry over the moors. Moderate west or north westerly winds will be fresh to strong further west and also exposed areas.

Although the showers will continue into the night with some remaining wintry over the moors, they will become much more isolated by morning with long clear spells developing allowing a slight frost to develop in well-sheltered areas and perhaps a few icy patches. Min Temp 2C (36F).

13:58:News on the hour

The top news stories at 14:00 include:

BBC Radio Cornwall: The team behind Cornwall's spaceport proposal say they'll be making crucial decisions in the coming weeks whether to submit a formal bid for the project after Newquay remains on a shortlist.

BBC Radio Devon: The North Devon Link Road is one of seven big road projects in the South West getting a share of £2bn for upgrade work from the government.

13:45:Pick-up truck 'spins off road'Andrew SegalLocal Live

Police are investigating a road crash which saw a white pick-up truck hit the central reservation of the A30 near Fraddon and spin off the road this morning.

Officers said a Renault van and a Citroen Nemo car were also reportedly involved in the collision at about 06:50 but no-one was injured. A 20m (66ft) section of crash barrier was damaged.

13:36:Burglary 'taken seriously?' responsesvia Facebook

People have been commenting on Facebook to BBC Radio Cornwall's Laurence Reed's question about whether police still take burglary offences seriously:

Colin Day: The police can't be bothered because the CPS can't be bothered so we can't be bothered

Keith Sutton: What's the point in reporting it when at the police station they actually ask "and what would you like us to do about it?"

Simon James Parramore: Burgled 3 times, last time they were still in the house when the police got there, and still escaped

You can still let Laurence know your views on 01872 222222 until 15:00.

13:25:Call to postpone council office move

East Devon District Council is being asked to postpone an office relocation decision until after the outcome of a tribunal which is examining whether the authority should disclose related reports, the Exeter Express and Echo says.

The authority is appealing against an information commissioner decision that it should have disclosed information regarding its relocation project after a Freedom of Information request by a Sidmouth resident.

The Civil Aviation Authority has updated its shortlist of possible locations for the spaceport - Newquay Airport is in the running against Campbeltown, Glasgow Prestwick, and Stornoway in Scotland as well as Llanbedr in Wales.

12:55:News on the hour

The top news stories at 13:00 include:

BBC Radio Cornwall: A 70-year-old woman has been rescued from a swimming pool at Trenance in Newquay and taken to hospital by helicopter.

BBC Radio Devon: The family of 10-year-old Samuel Crocker, who died at the weekend following a road accident in Crediton, say their lives have been "turned upside down".

12:44:Blowing the whistle on discrimination?Bill BuckleyPresenter, BBC Radio Devon

There's been a big rise in reports of discrimination within football. Does that mean the sport is getting more serious about unacceptable behaviour or that it's getting worse?

What's your experience from the pitch, touchline - or even the train? Join the debate on BBC Radio Devon with Bill Buckley from 13:00 on 0345 301 1034.

12:31:Link road fund delightBBC Radio Devon

North Devon Council has welcomed government funding to improve safety at a notorious accident black spot and bottleneck.

The North Devon Link Road is among seven road schemes sharing in £2bn funding - North Devon Council Leader Brian Greenslade said: "This investment scheme has the potential to ease congestion, improve road safety and cut down on travel times. Not only will this be good news for residents and tourists, but businesses and future economic growth too."

The 10-year-old was knocked down on Saturday as he went to visit a friend - his family said: "We all miss our little 'mole' so much and can't begin to imagine how we move on from the devastating situation we are in now."

Last week paramedics helped a mother and baby in Gunnislake suffering serious burns from hot water - the pair were flown to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth in just seven minutes - the road journey would have taken at least half an hour.

11:36:Kingsteignton accidentBBC Travel South West

The A381 Teignmouth Road in Kingsteignton is partially blocked near the A380 Besigheim Way junction because of an accident.

The cooks have to whip up a healthy balanced two-course meal in just one and a half hours for a maximum of just £1.60 but forget the spotted dick, dishes include triple fish gateaux and creamy panna cotta with roasted figs and honey.

09:56:News on the hour

The top news stories at 10:00 include:

BBC Radio Cornwall: Drivers are asked to avoid the eastbound A30 at Fraddon as repair works continue after an accident.

The A392 East Road in Quintrell Downs is partially blocked and busy but moving near the Bridle Way junction, because of an accident.

09:39:Waste plant divides villageAlison JohnsBBC Radio Cornwall

A row over a proposed anaerobic digestion plant has split a quiet village on the Cornwall - Devon border.

Some people in Boyton near Launceston are concerned about smell, disruption and the transportation of food waste 40 miles by road from Plymouth - the developers have rejected the criticism, saying the plant will provide a good source of renewable energy.

09:27:Bid to stop exploitationBBC Radio Devon

A programme to help people with learning disabilities protect themselves from sexual exploitation has been developed in Devon, and is thought to be the first in the country.

The project is funded by Comic Relief and uses role play and discussions to help people understand the risks - those who work with people with learning disabilities say they are more vulnerable to sexual exploitation because of their need for friendship.

09:17:Slavery conferenceBBC Radio Cornwall

Fears there could be as many as 13,000 victims of slavery currently in the UK are to be discussed at a high level conference in Cornwall today.

The Bishop of Truro, the Right Reverend Tim Thornton, said: "How sad it is that we need to have a piece of legislation which is called the Modern Slavery Bill. We all would have hoped that slavery was something in the past. Clearly it is not."

09:06:Building to be demolishedBBC Spotlight

Work is beginning to demolish a fire-damaged building in Cullompton, branded an eyesore.

The Harlequin Valet building on the main street has been derelict since 2010 - residents and campaigners from the pre-school club that meets next door are relieved that something is being done.

BBC Radio Devon: A Devon project offers training to protect people with learning disabilities.

08:48:Lad praised for honesty

The Plymouth Herald is reporting a schoolboy who found a wallet full of cash on a bus has been praised for his honesty after handing it to police.

Ollie Brooks, 11, from Averton Gifford in the South Hams, was travelling home from Kingsbridge Community College when he found the wallet on the floor of the bus.

He took it straight to the police so they could trace the owner, and officers have described Ollie as a 'credit to his family, the school and the local community' for his honest and honourable actions.

Congestion is reported on the M5 at Junction 27 - there's slow traffic on A361 westbound in Sampford Peverell at Tiverton in the roadworks area.

The A3079 Station Road in Halwill Junction is partially blocked due to an accident - it is busy, but moving near the Station Road junction.

08:26:Slavery warningMatt PengellyLocal Live

The chief constable of Devon and Cornwall Police is urging the public to be more aware of modern slavery, ahead of a conference in Cornwall today.

Shaun Sawyer said: "National figures suggest an increase in reports of victimisation in the areas of forced labour, domestic servitude and sexual exploitation, with an estimated 10,000 to 13,000 victims of slavery currently in the UK."

08:15:Sunshine and showersKevin ThomasBBC Weather Forecaster

There will be scattered showers and spells of sunshine today. Some showers will be heavy with hail and perhaps wintry over the moors.

Moderate west or southwesterly winds will be fresh to strong further west, around showers and also exposed areas elsewhere. Max Temp 7C (45F).

08:07:A30 Cornwall accidentBBC Travel South West

On the A30 Cornwall Eastbound one lane is closed between Summercourt and Indian Queens, because of a multi-vehicle accident.

And there's an accident on the Devon/Cornwall border, on the A39 near the turn for Meddon, north of Bude.

08:00:Good morning!Matt PengellyLocal Live

I'll be bringing you the latest news, sport, travel and weather updates for Tuesday.

If you've got a comment on this service or some news you'd like us to cover, please do email us.

BBC links

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.